Naughty Dog used Google SketchUp for Uncharted 2 development

When SketchUp was first released by @Last Software in 2000, it was billed as a 3D content creation tool for everyone. While modelers were paying thousands of dollars for complicated packages such as 3DS Max and AutoCad, here’s was a new tool that cost significantly less and was extremely easy to pick up and create with.

Google noticed this fluid design tool and decided to buy @Last Software in 2006. End users were the real winners in that deal as rather than having to pay to use SketchUp, we got it for free.

What no one knew until now, not even Google, was that Naughty Dog use the 3D tool for concept 3D designs. More specifically, Robh Ruppel, art director at the game developer, used it for his initial 3D design work on Uncharted 2.

The thing to remember here is that Naughty Dog is a studio that will have site licenses for powerful modeling packages like Maya and Max, yet Ruppel chose to use SketchUp because “it’s so fast” and allowed him to make design choices that translated over to the game as he was actually creating the environments as he went.

While budding 3D modelers can turn to the open source Blender software to learn the skills they need, don’t forget that SketchUp is also a serious modeling tool and one that may eventually help you get your foot in the door at a developer like Naughty Dog.

Speak Your Mind

bryan

This doesn’t surprise me at all. Sketchup is used extensively for architectural 3d modeling. Im currently pursuing a masters of architecture and Ive used sketchup for a variety of projects. Ive also had teachers who were offered 3d modeling jobs for gaming.

Blackie White

Shorter dev time and more creative freedom = WIN. I have known community modders who have used it in the past to create actual in game models for mods for games such as FarCry. I have skinned them.